Usually Bears fans are interested in this stuff during the first week of january, but lately that hasn't been the case. For the rest of you already looking towards the draft, here's my 32 picks in the first round right now.

As some of you already know, I am an NFL Draft junkie! With that said, I've been looking at a billion sites and watching any random college football I can get my hands on and here is my Draft 07 Preview if it went down today.

1. Oakland Raiders - Brady Quinn, QB - Notre Dame
Al Davis can't pass up the chance to finally get the QB position set straight since Rich Gannon retired.

2. Detroit Lions - Joe Thomas, OT - Wisconsin
With Detroit out of reach of Brady Quinn, they do what may not be popular, but must be done. Get an absolute stud at the offensive tackle position.

3. (coin flip pending) Cleveland Browns - Calvin Johnson, WR - Georgia Tech
Browns need help everywhere, but this guy may be the best all around player in the draft. An immediate difference maker makes a team with already Braylen Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. that much scarier.

4. (coin flip pending) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Gaines Adams, DE - Clemson
Seems to be the choice by all experts here at the moment. The Bucs are getting old on defense and really need to start addressing a defense that is getting slower by the minute.

5. Arizona Cardinals - Sam Baker, OT - USC
Too many wins late took them out of the Joe Thomas sweepstakes. However, Baker may be the better fit for this team. Already with USC alum Matt Leinart and fellow offensive lineman Taitusi Lutui, this team is in need of gelling as an offensive line.

6. Washington Redskins - Alan Branch, DT - Michigan
Branch has had himself a hell of a season with the Wolverines. He just finished his junior year so he may not come out for the draft, but if he does he is a top ten pick. The Redskins are in desperate need of...well, just about everything. However their defensive line has especially been an issue this year. This would be a perfect fit.

7. Minnesota Vikings - Leon Hall, CB - Michigan
Yea, I know what you’re thinking, another Michigan guy. Well he’s another reason they did as well as they did this year. Hall could fit in as a safety or cornerback in the NFL. The Vikings did a tremendous job against the run this year, however the pass defense burned them time and time again. Hall could develop into a shut down corner.

8. Houston Texans - Adrian Peterson, RB - Oklahoma
This pick right here will have people forgetting this team passed on Reggie Bush. I believe Peterson is going to be a top three running back by his second year in the league. I think his injuries have been kind of freakish. He’s fast, strong, and got good size for the position. The Texans will be 8-8 at the least next year.

9. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long, OT - Michigan
This is a tough pick right now because I don’t know who the head coach is right now. There are so many places to go with this pick, but this is the safe pick for a team that couldn’t block for a running back or protect the quarterback.

10. Atlanta Falcons - Laron Landry, S - LSU
This might be high for some people to take Landry, but I think he’s worthy of a top ten pick. He is a playmaker and I remember the last time I liked a playmaker at the DB position that went later than he should have and he turned out alright (Ed Reed, Baltimore). While Landry may be no Reed, he’s the closest thing to it in this draft and Atlanta needs all the help they can getting game changers right now. And yes I know they stocked up at DB last year. They’re already old back there.

11. San Francisco 49ers - Dwayne Jarrett, WR - USC
Another guy a lot of insiders don’t have as high as I do. I’ve seen enough of this guy to know I like what I see. He’d fit in nice sticking in Southern Cal and could be the last missing piece for an alreadyy pretty good offense. Watch in ’07 if the 49ers get this guy to go along with Gore, Vernon Davis, and Bryant.

12. Buffalo Bills - Quentin Moses, DE - Georgia
Coach Dick Jauron would be delighted to see a guy like this fall to the twelfth overall pick. Jauron is building a strong, young defense in Buffalo and Moses gives them a legitimate pass rusher.

13. St. Louis Rams - Quinn Pitcock, DT - Ohio State
May end up being the best defensive tackle in this draft ten years from now. He’s been a huge factor in the Buckeye’s success over the past two years. Haslett still has some work to do on defense and Pitcock would fill a huge void. He even had 8 sacks this year.

14. Carolina Panthers - Patrick Willis, ILB - Ole Miss
Tough spot for the Panthers here as they look at JaMarcus Russell and Brian Brohm staring at them in the face. Coach John Fox still believes he has a winner now, but in order to have a better chance going into next year the Panthers need to address their linebacker issues...NOW.

15. Green Bay Packers - Justin Blalock, OG - Texas
The Packers O-Line got better through out the season, but could still use a stud guy in there somewhere. Enter Justin Blalock. If you saw any Texas games this year, chances are you saw some great blocks by this guy. Blalock is at a size where he could even play tackle if necessary and we all know Green Bay needs some versatility in this part of their offense.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers - Darrelle Revis, CB - Pittsburgh
I had to ask Larry what the Steelers’ main weaknesses were. We struggled to come up with anything. While their run defense was third this year, their pass defense was 20th. Revis is a local guy that, if he comes out early, would be a good fit here.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars - JaMarcus Russell, QB - LSU
This could be a steal at 17. If Russell comes out early this would really put some pressure on Byron Leftwich. The Jags seemed to be stagnant last year and a guy like Russell who can do it all might be just the kind of guy Del Rio is looking for. Russell’s arm strength is second to none.

18. Cincinnati Bengals - Ray McDonald, DE - Florida
The Bengals still need a lot of help on defense, especially being able to creat pressure without blitzing. McDonald isn’t much of a pass rusher, but the Bengals need all the help they can get these days up front.

19. Tennessee Titans - Ted Ginn Jr., WR - Ohio State
Wow. If this happens, it’ll be fun to watch Vince Young and Ted Ginn Jr. on the same team. Sure the Titans were bad on defense this past year, but Young is still, well young and needs a few more pieces around him in order to continue his develop. Ginn Jr. would make a great weapon.

20. New York Giants - Reggie Nelson, S - Florida
The Giants have struggled in the secondary for years. After Jason Sehorn had that one good year it’s been downhill ever since. Even when they’ve drafted good talent in Will Allen and Will Peterson (now known as Will James, don’t ask), they’ve lost out to injuries. Nelson is a must at this pick.

21. Denver Broncos - Marcus McCauley, CB - Fresno St.
Don’t even want to mention why, but McCauley is probably the best player here and the fact the Broncos lost Darrent Williams in a horrible fatal shooting early New Year’s Day makes this pick all the more logical.

22. New England Patriots (from Seattle) - Jeff Samardzija, WR - Notre Dame
I’m probably going high on WR’s, but I feel like the Pats have to go with WR after trading for this pick by giving up Deion Branch, a former Superbowl MVP. Troy Brown isn’t getting any younger either and I don’t think I can name anyone other than Reche Caldwell that plays receiver over there.

23. Dallas Cowboys - Levi Brown, OT - Penn State
I don’t know how Bill Parcells has kept his sanity because...no, not TO...because of the offensive line. Levi Brown is the perfect remedy. At 6’ 5â€

Nice work, Ryan.

As a general rule, I try to stay away from mocks (my own that is) until after the Super Bowl. I follow the projections year round, but there's just so much time between now and late April, it can drive a man insane.

A few quick thoughts:

- not sure Jarrett goes ahead of Ginn
- good chance Brohm does not last that deep into round 1
- tough to pinpoint a spot for Samardzija given the whole baseball ordeal
- the Bears may again be looking defense in round 1. exhibit a) possibility of losing Lance Briggs. exhibit b) no reason to trust Mike Brown.

Looking forward to the combine now that I finally gave in and bought NFL Network...

Yea, I don't think Jarrett will probably go ahead of Ginn, but I thought maybe with San fran there they might go that route.

I'm also looking forward to it.

From the Bears perspective, I think they need to look at the following areas come draft/free agency - they don't have any drastic holes unless Briggs leave so I'm hoping the draft/free agency can be used to continue to add depth throughout the team.

- I left DT off the list despite some concern here about depth. I believe both Boone and Scott are free agents, and I think Scott will find more opportunity/more money elsewhere. I expect Tank Johnson to be back along with DT Dusty Dvoracek to step in next season, and although Tommie Harris has to be a question mark, the Bears also like Antonio Garay.

1) OLB - assuming that Lance Briggs leaves via free agency this has to be the #1 area for improvement. They did draft Jamar Williams in the 4th round from Arizona St, but he's currently on IR, and I don't think they have a suitable replacement on the roster.

2) OT - Fred Miller at RT is advancing in age, and the Bears need to start looking at developing some younger players on the line, particularly on the edges.

3) CB - The Bears may only be able to keep one of the two starting CB's between Vasher and Tillman. Ricky Manning will be around, and although they drafted D.Hester in Round 2 of the past draft, adding another CB should be a priority.

4) WR - This should be a very good draft for WR's. Berrian has emerged as Grossman's top downfield target, but Muhammed is advancing in age, and Mark Bradley is still developing. I wouldn't mind adding another WR to the mix.

5) TE - Desmond Clark had a career year, but he's been injury prone in the past, and, like I said, it was a career year.

6) S - Mike Brown is questionable, at best, to return next season. Either way, I think he would have to come back on the Bears $$$ terms. Generally speaking, quality safties can be found a bit later in the draft so wouldn't consider taking one until at least the 4th-5th round. In addition, safeties can be free agent bargains as well.

You forgot QB. I've come to grips with the fact that he is, and always will be, garbage. I predict he'll be out of the NFL entirely within 5 years (like so many Bears QBs before him).

God they're fucked moving forward. Why can't the Bears ever get a QB? Why, I ask you?!

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Nicely done, Ryan. That was more interesting to read than most of the "insider" bullhoo that you read close to the draft. I like that you had Russell lower than what some of the analysts are predicting (no. 2??) but I just don't think Russell's ready for the NFL yet. I've seen a lot of him through his years and he's grown every year, but he still has trouble holding onto the football and makes mistakes that an NFL defense will destroy you for; and he's already getting batted around by good *college* defenses.

I like the pick for him to go to Jax though because if Russell *does* go to the NFL, he's certainly no Vince Young and would need time to develop and would make for great competition.

With you on the Peterson pick for Houston too. But they may not be smart enough for that...

I reall thnk the Raiders are the wild card in this. We all know how odd Al Davis is. Brady Quinn was horrible last night, with really no help of course. Jamarcus had a kick ass game. Who the hell knows what the Raiders do.

While I don't agree that Grossman is garbage, I do believe that the Bears should be looking at a QB in the first round, especially if Jamarcus Russell slips to their spot. I love what I've seen of this guy--great size, good arm strength, mobility, pretty good accuracy. According to Hub, he's currently regarded as a second or third round pick. I'd be shocked if he's taken lower than the middle of the first round, though. Personally, I like him better than Brady Quinn as a long-term prospect.

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Hub doesn't know what the hell he is talking about. What in the hell is he smoking? Third round my ass. I almost wonder if I have Russell slipping too far. There just aren't too many teams at the top of the draft list that need a qb. Maybe Russell did enough for Detroit to get him.

Given their track record, I can't see the Bears keeping that pick. They'll trade down again.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

Ha, I can't say I disagree with that Scott!

Ryan, where do you see Zbikowski going? Hard to get a read on him.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

I don't see the Bears taking a QB - if Rex Grossman is responsible for the team going home next week from the playoffs, I think the most we'll hear is that Brian Griese will get a shot to win the job instead of what we've seen in the past.

Russell, if he comes out, will be a top pick with that size/arm. No chance he ends up with the Bears.

If Zbikoski comes out early, I'd say late first round/early second. I love the guy.

Ha, Coach I apologize for the Bears draft talk. I was simply posting my thought on round one of the draft. Out of habit, as Chicago fans we can't help ourselves and discuss these things.

You are probably right, BD. I was shocked to hear Hub say NFL scouts see him as "too raw" to be a first-round pick. I think he will be a star in the pros.

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Nice work WR.

I don't think it will happen but I would love to see the Bears package up Jones and their pick and whatever else it may take to move up in the draft and try to land a stud WR like Johnson.

They finally can deal from somewhat of a position of strength in their trades being that they have some depth and quality to try to land a real difference maker. Similar to what I would hope to see the Bulls do, take 2 or 3 of their quality assets and turn them into 1 superlative one.

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You know me like that.

That'd be awesome. The thing about Calvin is that he has a great head on his shoulders unlike a lot of other jack ass receivers. Really intelligent guy too. He's going to be a great NFL player some day.

I think you have underdrafted the QBs in this mock Ryan. I imagine that by the end of the combine Quinn, Brohm and Russell will be on equal footing. I have a feeling Brohm is going to absolutely shine as a player with a good arm, advanced knowledge of the position and good mobility. He will be the one wearing the "most NFL ready" tag that seems to imply "not a lot of growth potential".

Don't shy away from the recievers in this draft. This is going to be a good year for recievers. I think the Bears will be in the mix for one.

Yeah, I also heard Hub say that and don't agree at all with that comment.

i love the guy too but after his performance this year i think he's a 3rd round or later pick.

Uhh, I thnk have six in the first round. If that isn't shying away, I don't know what is

I think Lions may end up going QB now. It really will be up to whatever the Raiders do. The only teams I see taking a QB after Detroit, but before Jax is Carolina. John Fox is insistent this team is close still and I see him addressing his linebacking need in the draft IF he can't do it or can't afford it in free agency.

I'd rank all the QB's much higher, but I was basing this off of rank, need, and flow of the draft. As we all know not necessarily the best players always go right away.

john, tough to say. Notre Dame had ten other guys that made his job so much harder. He did nab six picks this year which surprised me when I looked at his final stats. I wonder where those six picks came from because I don't remember all, but two.

Are we sold on Brady Quinn still after seeing him against a top college defense just not look that good AGAIN ?

Quarterback
Rohan Davey, RFA, Arizona Cardinals
Damon Huard, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Shaun King, UFA, Indianapolis Colts
John Navarre, RFA, Arizona Cardinals
Tim Rattay, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Matt Schaub, RFA, Atlanta Falcons
Anthony Wright, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals

Running Back
Chris Brown, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Correll Buckhalter, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Najeh Davenport, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
T.J. Duckett, UFA, Washington Redskins
Nick Goings, UFA, Carolina Panthers
Ahman Green, UFA, Green Bay Packers
Maurice Hicks, RFA, San Francisco 49ers
Patrick Pass, UFA, New England Patriots
B.J. Sams, RFA, Baltimore Ravens
Marcel Shipp, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Antowain Smith, UFA, Houston Texans
Michael Turner, RFA, San Diego Chargers

Wide Receiver
Drew Bennett, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Marc Boerigter, UFA, Green Bay Packers
David Boston, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tyrone Calico, UFA
Patrick Crayton, RFA, Dallas Cowboys
Kevin Curtis, UFA, St. Louis Rams
Andre' Davis, UFA, Buffalo Bills
Bobby Engram, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Mike Furrey, RFA, Detroit Lions
Justin Gage, UFA, Chicago Bears
D.J. Hackett, RFA, Seattle Seahawks
Keenan McCardell, UFA, San Diego Chargers
Shaun McDonald, UFA, St. Louis Rams
Samie Parker, RFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Jerome Pathon, UFA, Atlanta Falcons
Willie Ponder, UFA, New York Giants
Edell Shepherd, RFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Donte Stallworth, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Travis Taylor, UFA, Minnesota Vikings
Scottie Vines, RFA, Detroit Lions
Bobby Wade, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Peter Warrick, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Kelley Washington, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Alvis Whitted, UFA, Oakland Raiders
Ernest Wilford, RFA, Jacksonville Jaguars

Tight End
Kyle Brady, UFA, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tony Gonzalez, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Daniel Graham, UFA, New England Patriots
Ben Hartsock, RFA, Indianapolis Colts
Zach Hilton, UFA, New York Jets
Eric Johnson, UFA, San Francisco 49ers
Reggie Kelly, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Jerramy Stevens, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Boo Williams, UFA, New York Giants

Offensive Line
Eric Steinbach, UFA, Bengals
Jordan Black, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Cooper Carlisle, UFA, Denver Broncos
Dwayne Carswell, UFA, Denver Broncos
Leonard Davis UFA Arizona Cardinals
Derrick Dockery, UFA, Washington Redskins
Nat Dorsey, RFA, Cleveland Browns
Mike Gandy, UFA, Buffalo Bills
Chris Gray, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Norm Katnik, RFA, New York Jets
Ryan Lilja, RFA, Indianapolis Colts
Sean Locklear, RFA, Seattle Seahawks
Roman Oben, UFA, San Diego Chargers
Brian Rimpf, RFA, Baltimore Ravens
Max Starks RFA Pittsburgh Steelers
Eric Steinbach, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Todd Steussie, UFA, St. Louis Rams
Floyd Womack, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Kris Dielman, UFA, San Diego
Damion McIntosh, UFA, Miami Dolphins

Defensive End
Allen, Jared, KC - RFA
Bowens, David, MIA - UFA
Coleman, KDdidit, DAL - UFA
Freeney, Dwight, IND - UFA
Geathers, Robert, CIN - RFA
Gbaja-Biamila, Kabeer, GB - UFA
Kelsay, Chris, BUF - UFA
Kerney, Patrick, ATL - UFA
McCray, Bobby, JAX - RFA
Pryce, Trevor, BAL - UFA
Redding, Cory, DET - UFA
Scott, Darrion, MIN - RFA
Smith, Justin, CIN - UFA
Thomas, Juqua, PHI - UFA
White, Dewayne, TB - UFA

Defensive Tackle
Vonnie Holliday, UFA, Miami Dolphins
Edward Jasper, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Chad Lavalais, RFA, Atlanta Falcons
Hollis Thomas, UFA, New Orleans Saints
Robaire Smith, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Michael Myers, UFA, Denver Broncos
Terdell Sands UFA Oakland Raiders

Linebacker
Chase Blackburn, ERFA, New York Giants
Lance Briggs, UFA, Chicago Bears
Chad Brown, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
James Darling, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Na'il Diggs, UFA, Carolina Panthers
Donnie Edwards, UFA, San Diego Chargers
London Fletcher UFA Buffalo Bills
Randall Godfrey, UFA, San Diego Chargers
Cato June, UFA, Indianapolis Colts
Kawika Mitchell, UFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Rob Morris, UFA, Indianapolis Colts
Adalius Thomas, UFA, Baltimore Ravens

Cornerback
Roc Alexander, RFA, Denver Broncos
Jordan Babineaux, RFA, Seattle Seahawks
Nate Clements, UFA, Buffalo Bills
Jason David, RFA, Indianapolis Colts
Randall Gay, RFA, New England Patriots
Nick Harper, UFA, Indianapolis Colts
David Macklin, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Asante Samuel UFA New England Patriots

Safety
Tyrone Carter, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
Deon Grant, UFA, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ken Hamlin, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Michael Lewis, UFA, Philadelphia Eagles
Donnie Nickey, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Tony Parrish, UFA, San Francisco 49ers
Ernest Shazor, ERFA, Arizona Cardinals
B.J. Ward, RFA, Baltimore Ravens
Gibril Wilson, RFA, New York Giants

Kicker
Josh Brown, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Josh Scobee, RFA, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence Tynes, RFA, Kansas City Chiefs

Punter
Michael Koenen, ERFA, Atlanta Falcons
Matt Turk, UFA, St. Louis Rams

BD, don't know where you got that list, but thanks. I was looking for that.

That list is pretty accurate, but I don't think it's 100% on par, but it's real hard, for whatever reason, to find a list of free agents in the NFL.

Yea, unless you want to pay ESPN insider money to look at it which is complete shit and no one should fork over even a penny for it. They should be giving that our for free....BECAUSE THEY GET PAID THROUGH COMMERCIALS AND ADS ON THE NET. Pisses me off that those jackasses feel the need to take an additional $9.99 from us along with all the other income they already get to make that public. It's not as if they are the only people privileged to have a list like that. It's free somewhere. Assholes...